Matilda Owolagba

Sr. Matilda Owolagba is a member of the Sisters of St. Louis, Nigeria Province. A canonist, she is currently pursuing a doctorate in canon law at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. In November 2024, she attended an international conference at the university titled "Shall We Talk About Trust? How to Restore Trust in the Catholic Church After Its Betrayal in the Abuse Scandals" where she presented the paper "The Role of Church Leadership in Building Trust — A Necessity in a Synodal Church."

By this Author

Pictured are worshippers holding candles in this 2012 photo. Church leaders have a crucial role and duty in rebuilding trust after the sexual abuse scandals involving clerics and other church representatives, writes Sr. Matilda Owolagba. (CNS file/Gregory A. Shemitz)

Apr 16, 2025

After abuse scandals, church leaders must take action to rebuild trust

We can still talk about trust after the abuse scandals — but only if church leadership puts in place measures to ensure that trust is never again betrayed as it was in the past.